Israeli troops escape jail in Palestinian shooting

The Associated Press

An Israeli military court has sentenced two soldiers convicted in the close-range shooting of a bound and blindfolded Palestinian man and neither will see jail time.

Lt. Col. Omri Borberg, caught on video holding the arm of Ashraf Abu Rahmeh while he was shot with a rubber-coated bullet, cannot be promoted for the next two years, or command other troops for one year, a military spokesman says.

The sergeant who pulled the trigger has completed his military service, but was demoted to private.

Abu Rahmeh was shot in the foot in July 2008 in the West Bank village of Naalin. He was detained by Israeli troops after protesting against Israel's West Bank separation barrier.